Everything you need to know about bourbon’s cooler cousin.

What a difference a few centuries make. Once considered a weed, rye is now the main grain in one of America’s most sought-after spirits: rye whiskey. Its bold profile has bartenders finally moving beyond bourbon. “Just like in bread, rye adds a distinct spiciness to whiskey,” says Julian Goglia of The Mercury in Atlanta. That depth makes it a great match for modern cocktails (or, of course, for drinking neat). Here, a few things to know while cruising the booze aisle.

Bottle Service

What should you be drinking? A few suggestions:

Hochstadter’s Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey (pictured above), $35The first rye to use a “vatted” designation (meaning a blend), this mix of five straight rye whiskeys sourced from distilleries across North America is aged and bottled in Philadelphia, where the distillery was founded in 1884. So-called “straight” rye has been aged at least two years, with no added flavor, color, or additional spirit.

Old Overholt, $17There’s no need to go boutique. Old Overholt and Rittenhouse are industry favorites for delivering the classic rye profile at an affordable price.

Ted Cavanaugh

Decode the Label

A few things to look for on the bottle:

Age statementRye must be aged in new oak barrels, but there are no rules about how long. If the bottle doesn’t tell you how old it is, that means it’s been aged at least four years.

ProofDouble the alcohol by volume and you’ll get the proof—the strength of the alcohol at bottling. American rye must be at least 80 proof and at most 160.

Small-batch, handmade, craftOften just marketing, these words aren’t regulated, rendering them meaningless. They’re the “all-natural” of the booze world.

So You Want to Call Yourself an American Rye...

Unlike bourbon, rye whiskey can be made outside of the United States. To be considered an American rye, the mash bill (blend of grains) must contain no less than 51 percent rye, making it more peppery and not as sweet as bourbon, which must be made from 51 percent corn.